007 Why France's civilian order awards are always conferred on Indian film stars only?

Topics for discussion: 007, Awards, Knight of the Legion of Honour, Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

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Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius presented the Knight of the Legion of Honor Award to the Bollywood Film Star Mr. Shahrukh Khan, at Tajmahal Hotel, Mumbai, on 1st July 2014.

Satyajit Roy ... 1987.
Shivaji Ganesan ... 1995.
Shaji N. Karun (film director) ...1999.
Amitabh Bachan ... 2007.
Lata Mangeshkar ... 2007.
Shahrukh Khan ... 2014.

Not that, Indians belonging to other professions have not been conferred these awards, but their share is less.

Chevalier (Knight) is the lowest. Hence we have to equate it with Padma Shri award conferred in India. There is an impression in India, that Knight of the Legion of Honor is the Highest of the genre. Grand Cross and Grand Master seem to be the highest awards. There are no Indian recipients of Grand Cross or Grand Master.

There is also an impression in India, that these awards are extremely rare. Since their inception in 1803, nearly a million people seem to have received these awards. Hence, these are not rare.

There is an impression in India, that these awards are conferred by French Government with its own initiative and on its own volition. But, my survey on the net suggests that the award seekers have to apply to the French Consulate on prescribed form, and submit required supporting documents.

There is an impression that in England lordships and peerages are conferred on rich foreigners after collecting political party funds or some other subscriptions. In other words, they seem to be for sale.

In France, it is not clear, whether these Chevalier (Knight-hoods are sold formally or informally), or conferred genuinely free of charges, based only on merits. After all, according to Karl Marx, all human relations are financial relations. Every human exchange, should therefore be a financial exchange. Hence, the question of recovery of at least, the out of pocket expenses, such as the airfare of the French Foreign Minister to India, arrangements for his stay in a 5 star Hotel etc, costs of arranging the function for conferring the award, photographers and videos etc.